What is in your cup?

[Stitchawl]

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Rainy morning and I have to go downtown... Cold, too. Guess I'll take the train instead of riding. Oh well... Starting the day off with Taylors of Harrogate's English Breakfast Tea! Good hearty beginnings!

Originally Posted by astra

I was told to drink lots of caffeine today to compensate the law pressure after a certain medical procedure in order to avoid headache.

Spinal tap?

I opened Taylors of Harrogate Pure Ceylon Leaf Tea
{SNIP}
Ceylon 9-10/10

That is good tea! I think I prefer Taylor's Ceylon over Fortum & Mason's. It seems a bit 'deeper.' Unfortunately, I can't find Taylor's Ceylon around here, but thankfully, I do like the F&M a lot and can get that.

Originally Posted by phenomshel

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who procrastinates about the dentist...(and I'm continuing to do so until I'm in horrible pain, probably).

I grew up with a really deep fear of dentists... and unfortunately, my father was one. . Well, an Oral Surgeon, but he did my dentistry until I was old enough to move out of the house.

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Pepsi!

Welcome, Cyclops! I think you're the first Pepsi drinker I've noticed in this thread. Don't worry about it. We'll convert you soon enough.

I'm going to try a re-steep of the English Breakfast tea for my second cup.

Stitchawl

[phenomshel]

Pomegranate Rooibos. Still trying to decide if I like it.

[willijt]

I think I may have discovered oolong nirvana. I have this delightful high mountain oolong that I obtained from Taiwan. Instead of brewing it in my favourite yixing teapot (pronounced ee-shing), I brewed it in a slightly larger ceramic pot that allowed the leaves to blossom more fully in the water and expel their essence. Incredible! Sat for a whole hour after the evening meal sipping two separate batches (4 infusions) while reading my book. Oh very yum!

[ProfCrash]

Ok so I managed to behave myself and went 5 hours after my fluoride treatment before trying a new tea.

Overall I was impressed with the shipping and service from Rishi. The samplers came in a really nice bamboo basket that I can use for decoration or putting rolls or something in on the dining table. All of the packaging is recyclable which I really like.

The mushroom looks awesome. I am waiting until this weekend to try it since it can be resteeped a ton of times and is a very fast steep initially. I will probably wait on the brick as well. The sampler collection of Pu-Erhs are all loose. I'll try some of those over the course of the week and will probably take them to the office with me. They are also flavored, Vanilla Mint, Ginger, and then two loose blends.

I tried the Ancient Shu Pu-erh Tuo Cha tonight. It was the least expensive Pu-erh that I ordered. It was $4.95 for one ounce which works out to 6 Tuos. The suggestion is to use one Tuo per 8 ounces of water. This was perfect because it meant I could make it in my new infuser.

It is ok, weaker then the Tea Gschwendner Tuos I have been drinking. The second steep was better then the first steep, I think there is something to the Tuo breaking up to let all the flavor out because this is the second time I have noticed that I have preferred the second steeping to the first. This was the least expensive variant so I am not surprised that the TG variant is a better. I have found that the cost does reflect the value for most teas.

I would drink this version again without any qualms and if I was in a pinch for money but really wanted some good Pu-Erh, I would order this again.

Tomorrow night I am going to try the Ancient Sheng Pu-erh Saiqing Ya Two Cha Vintage 2005. It is a bit more expensive, $14.95 for one ounce which was 4 pieces. One Tuo makes 8-12 ounces of tea.

I really like the new tea cup with infuser. It looks pretty, the infuser works nicely, and it lets you know when the tea is too hot to drink because you can't pick up the mug. (grins)

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by willijt

I think I may have discovered oolong nirvana. I have this delightful high mountain oolong that I obtained from Taiwan. Instead of brewing it in my favourite yixing teapot (pronounced ee-shing), I brewed it in a slightly larger ceramic pot that allowed the leaves to blossom more fully in the water and expel their essence. Incredible! Sat for a whole hour after the evening meal sipping two separate batches (4 infusions) while reading my book. Oh very yum!

Is it amazing what that little bit of extra space does for a tea. This is why I cringe when people use tea balls.

Enjoy!

[phenomshel]

Well, I'm not a fan of Pomegranate Rooibos. But, I am currently trying Stitchawl's theory about the apple tea from Adagio... made it with apple jujce instead of water. Pretty good. Adds a nice tea tang to the apple juice, and doesn't need sugar, since there's plenty in apple juice as there is. It's still not precisely what I was looking for but it's definitely drinkable this way. This is probably some sort of sacrilege, but at least I won't waste the tea this way.

[desertblues]

Happiness is in my cup today and cold Arabica-coffee.

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by desertblues

Thanks for the answers; I'm just flattened out from reading the amount you all drink.
To drink that amount there has to be something that triggered it?

Healthy lifestyle ? That's what made me change my drinking habits

Originally Posted by astra

2 unlimited & Scooter hooked me on dance, trance music for....up until now and maybe forever.

Wow, I really didn't expect you to be into dance music. Well, I said it before: to each his own Belgium produces a lot of dance music. Ever heard about Milk Inc ? Silver ?

Oh I remember Scooter! How much is the fish! Funny song

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The mushroom looks awesome.

Mushroom tea! Exactly what kind of mushroom do they use

Originally Posted by desertblues

Happiness is in my cup today and cold Arabica-coffee.

Could you spare me some ? All I have in my cup is lukewarm Brazilian Baia and a huge workload.

[pdurrant]

Coke Zero #1

[Latinandgreek]

Earl Grey tea and my favourite guilty pleasure. I'm going to (hopefully) make it a lazy day, with some t.v., tea, and e-book reading, and maybe a game of monopoly later on.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Spinal tap?

Yup. The very same. (How do you know?)
They promised headache and back pain.
Splitting headache today if I sneeze or bend down.
I don't get it. Headache from those two things is supposed to herald high blood pressure, instead of low.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

That is good tea! I think I prefer Taylor's Ceylon over Fortum & Mason's. It seems a bit 'deeper.' Unfortunately, I can't find Taylor's Ceylon around here, but thankfully, I do like the F&M a lot and can get that.

I loved the tea from the first sip. It took me by surprise.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I'm going to try a re-steep of the English Breakfast tea for my second cup.

How did it go?
I am getting an impression that I am not a resteep type of tea drinker. Maybe I am wrong and will re-adjust. I am not giving up on it yet but definitely not with black teas.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The mushroom looks awesome. I am waiting until this weekend to try it since it can be resteeped a ton of times and is a very fast steep initially. I will probably wait on the brick as well. The sampler collection of Pu-Erhs are all loose. I'll try some of those over the course of the week and will probably take them to the office with me

Wow! What an adventure, loads of experience and fun!
Sounds very exciting

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The second steep was better then the first steep, I think there is something to the Tuo breaking up to let all the flavor out because this is the second time I have noticed that I have preferred the second steeping to the first.

Almost on all websites they advise to wash tuocha before the first steeping. Like pouring boiling water on it and leaving the tuocha in it for 10-20-30 seconds. Pour out the water after that and steep it.
Another site recommended two washing. First 10 second, another 20 seconds.
They say it is for the Tuo breaking up to let all the flavor out and clean it from dust etc.

Originally Posted by Iridal

Wow, I really didn't expect you to be into dance music. Well, I said it before: to each his own Belgium produces a lot of dance music. Ever heard about Milk Inc ? Silver ?

Oh I remember Scooter! How much is the fish! Funny song

Ah, you don't visit What are you listening right now topic
I am all about dance, trance, Goa, even light versions of psy as long as it could be understood without any mushrooms...

Yes, I know and like Silver , although never liked Milk Inc. I need something faster, harder, scooter...I mean more beat

Originally Posted by Iridal

Mushroom tea! Exactly what kind of mushroom do they use

I am leaving this bit to ProfCrash to explain Who knows? Maybe we use different mushrooms...




I had 3 cups of Twinings English Breakfast today.
More to follow up.

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by Latinandgreek

Earl Grey tea and my favourite guilty pleasure. I'm going to (hopefully) make it a lazy day, with some t.v., tea, and e-book reading, and maybe a game of monopoly later on.

That sounds great, have fun!

Originally Posted by astra

Ah, you don't visit What are you listening right now topic
I am all about dance, trance, Goa, even light versions of psy as long as it could be understood without any mushrooms...

No, I haven't visited that thread yet. Music is more 'background' to me, a way to cancel out the noise from the trams and busses that are passing by. It's not one of my favourite subjects of conversation.

Originally Posted by astra

I am leaving this bit to ProfCrash to explain Who knows? Maybe we use different mushrooms...

Maybe it's an age thing. I read mushrooms and I think ... magic mushrooms We call them paddo's, there's less confusion with edible mushrooms.

In my cup: last cup of green tea orange (have to go out to buy more!). No mushrooms

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Iridal

Healthy lifestyle ? That's what made me change my drinking habits

Mushroom tea! Exactly what kind of mushroom do they use

heheheh I would lose my job if I made that type of tea.

It is a Pu-Erh that, for some reason, is molded into a cake that looks like a mushroom. You pick pieces off and use those to make your tea.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Well, I'm not a fan of Pomegranate Rooibos. But, I am currently trying Stitchawl's theory about the apple tea from Adagio... made it with apple jujce instead of water. Pretty good. Adds a nice tea tang to the apple juice, and doesn't need sugar, since there's plenty in apple juice as there is. It's still not precisely what I was looking for but it's definitely drinkable this way. This is probably some sort of sacrilege, but at least I won't waste the tea this way.

Do you think this would work with other flavorings? Vanilla syrup, Raspberry, etc.

Originally Posted by Iridal

Mushroom tea! Exactly what kind of mushroom do they use

I think you an I are of the same general era...
Those were fun years!

Originally Posted by Stitchawl View Post
Spinal tap?

Originally Posted by astra

Yup. The very same. (How do you know?)
They promised headache and back pain.

I have a rather strong medical background.

Taylors of Harrogate's Ceylon

I loved the tea from the first sip. It took me by surprise.

I just found it today! I had to go into Kyoto, and while there discovered another shop carrying Taylor's teas, and they had the Ceylon. But the price!!! They wanted 3800 yen for the Ceylon while the English Breakfast tea goes for 1800 yen! (These are for 125gm)

Re-steeping Breakfast tea....
How did it go?

It's not something I will do again. While it works well for the green teas, I think the more robust flavor of the black teas can't be maintained with a re-steep. It was rather dull.


And as it's after 10pm now, I think just a bit of Jamaican rum will be a nice relaxing cupful!

Stitchawl

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I just found it today! I had to go into Kyoto, and while there discovered another shop carrying Taylor's teas, and they had the Ceylon. But the price!!! They wanted 3800 yen for the Ceylon while the English Breakfast tea goes for 1800 yen! (These are for 125gm)

Omg. It is expensive (£28). It is the price of

Gyokuro (玉露)

here.